Package stacking and sealing mechanism



Nov.l 24, 1959 c. J. MALI-HOT PACKAGE sTAcKING AND SEALING MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed May 20. 1950 In ventor Clarence dmalhiot dlgs.

8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 20, 1950 INVENTOR. Clarence J malhiot Nov. 24, 1959 c. J. MALHxoT 2,913,864

PACKAGE STACKING AND lSEALING MECHANISM Original Filed May 20. 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 92 175 199 ggf Nov. 24, 1959 c. J. MALHloT 2,913,864

` PACKAGE STACKING AND SEALING MECHANISM Original Filed May 20. 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 JNVENTOR. vClarence J nalhiot l I WW;M&M

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Nov. 24, 1959 c. J. MALHloT 2,913,864

' PACKAGE s'rAcxING AND sEALING MECHANISM WW,M&M @a

Nov. 24, 1959 c. J. MALHloT PACKAGE s'rAcKING AND sEALmG MECHANISM 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed May 20, 1950 IN V EN TOR. Clarence JI malhio BY WMMMW C. J. MALA-"0T PACKAGE sTAcKING AND sEALmG MECHANISM Nov. 24, 1959 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Original Filed May 20, 1950 Nov. 24, 1959 c. J. MALHloT PACKAGE sTAcxING AND sEALING MECHANISM s sheetssheet Original' Filed May 20, 1950 United States Patent() PACKAGE STACKING AND SEALING MECHANISM Clarence J. Malhiot, Fontana, Wis., assgnor to F. B.

Redington Co., Bellwood, Ill., a corporation of Delaware vided and this application June 5, 1956, Serial No. 589,440 v v1o Claims. (ci. 53-387) The present invention isA a division of applicants copending application, Serial No. 163,248, filed May 20, 1950, now Patent No. 2,754,980, granted July 17,l 1956, and relates to improvements in package stacking and sealing mechanism adapted for use in receiving wrapped packages from the delivery end of a wrapping machine for the purpose of stacking the packages to facilitate handling thereof and to complete the drying or setting of the adhesive employed in securing the end iiaps of the packages together.

More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus wherein the foldedportions of package wrappers which are to be secured by adhesive material are retained in contact with each other until the adhesive material has been suiciently dried to give secure adherence of the folded portions, the apparatus being of the type in which the wrapped packages* are carried between endless traveling belts provided with suitable backing members, the opposed inner straightaway portions of runs of which are caused to exert resilient pressure upon the folded portions until such time as the adhesive material applied thereto has become suiciently dry as to secure the folded portions. Such drying apparatus is commonly known as a dryer and the path along which the packages travel is usually referred to as the drying channel or, sometimes, the sealing and delivery channel.

inasmuch as the sealing of wrapped packages of the character set forth above generally refers to the application of a daub of glue or other adhesive material to the end aps thereof, as well as to the subsequent drying or setting of the adhesive, and inasmuch as the packages which are received by the machine comprising the present invention have previously been operated upon by the wrapping machine to apply the adhesive to the end aps thereof, the term sealing as employed herein is intended to refer solely to the operation of completing the drying or setting operation on the adhesive material to permanently seal the packages.

Where comparatively large articles are wrapped at high speeds, the length of the sealing and delivery channel necessary to maintain pressure upon the packages for the predetermined minimum time to cause setting or drying of the adhesive material becomes very great, since the speed at which the packages must travel along the drying channel cannot be reduced beyond the point where oncoming packages are blocked against entrance to the channel. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sealing mechanism wherein the oncoming articles are collected in numerically equal groups as they are delivered from the wrapping machine, the groups up-ended, so to speak, to formr a stack, and

' the successively formed stacks transferred to the sealing and delivery channel for travel therealong whereby the speed of travel of the packages along the channel may be cut in direct proportion to the number of articles in a stack and whereby the length of the channel may be reduced, or a channel of given length may be alorded a greatly increased capacity.

` 2,913,864 Patented Nov. 24, 1959 'ice Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character briey outlined above in which the pressure applied to the folded portions of the stacked packages is applied gradually and equally to all of the packages in each stack as the stack passes into the entrance of the drying or sealing channel until such time as a predetermined maximum pressure has been attained, after which` time this increased pressure is uniformly maintained during the remainder of the sojourn of the stacked packages in the drying channel.

In carrying out the above mentioned object, the invention contemplates the provision of a machine which is cyclic in its operation at least to the extent that as each successive stack of the wrapped packages approaches the entrance to the drying channel, the receiving ends of the pressure applying belts at the receiving end of the channel are moved apart a short distance relavtive to each other to effectively widen Vthe entrance to the drying channel, after which, when each stack has entered the channel, these ends are moved together relative to each other to restore the receiving end of the channel to its normal width, during which movement any misalignment of the packages in a particular stack will be remedied so that there will be no binding of the relatively fragile package ends during travel of the articles through the drying channel.

' An advantageous feature of the stacking operation is to facilitate loading of the articles or packages into shipping containers in numerically equal groups of superimposed packages. In machines where the articles are processed in a single line passing through the sealing channel, it is necessary that the articles be removed from the delivery station individually and thereafter placed in the shipping containers, one at a time, or else stacked manually and inserted in the containers in groups. The present invention obviates such time-consuming operation inasmuch as the articles arrive at the delivery station in numerically equal groups of superimposed packages which may be bodily transferred to the shippingl containers by the operator, thus minimizing the handling operations required to assemble a complete shipping container, as well as shortening the packing time required to assemble the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character in which the stacking operation may be varied to accommodate the grouping of different numbers of packages in the stacks successively delivered from the Wrapping machine to the drying channel while maintaining a numerically equal number of packages in each successive group. l

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character set forth above having a stacking mechanism and a drying mechanism providing a drying channel, and in which the movements of the stacking mechanism are synchronized with the movements of the stacked articles or packages through the drying channel in such a manner that, regardless of the speed of operation of the stacking mechanism, the stacked articles are delivered to the drying channel and conducted therethrough in closely spaced relationship, thereby minimizing waste space and insuring an almost solid delivery of articles at the delivery station.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved device for taking articles from a straightline conveyor, stacking them, and delivering the stacks to another conveyor moving in the same line and direction as the rst conveyor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, not at this time enumerated, will become more readily apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood.-

In the accompanying eight sheets of drawings forming 'e 2,913,864 p A a part of this specification, a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated.

In these drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevational View of a stacking and sealing mechanism constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the apparatus illustrating principally the driving mechanism therefor as well as the mechanism by means of which the movements of the receiving end of the drying channel are controlled.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 7 7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along thef line 8 8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9 9 of Fig. l.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 10 10 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 11 11 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 12-12 of Fig. l0; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of an example of one of the packaged articles which by means of the present invention are arranged in stacked relationship and thereafter transported through a drying channel for packaging into shipping containers.

In general, the present invention contemplates a package stacking and sealing machine in which provision is made for handling the packagesas they are delivered from the wrapping machine inl a manner so as to enable a greater number of packages to be sealed with greater rapidity and more efficiently than has been previously possible. Heretofore, it has been customary to transfer the individual wrapped packages in succession directly from-the wrapping machine to the drier, the speed of travel of the packages along the drying channel being suicient to handle the output of the wrapping machine and the length of the channel being such as to alford the necessary drying time for each package as the packages are advanced through the drying channel in a single line. This practice proved satisfactory for sealing machines having an output of approximately 6() packages, or less, per minute, but proved impractical with modern high speed machines having an output as high as 200 packages per minute because of the extreme length of the drying channel required. In accordance with the present invention,.the package sealing. machine is provided with mechanism for collecting the output of the wrapping machine into numerically equal groups and for upending the groups to form stacks which are transferred bodily by the upending mechanism into lthe drying channel, the channel being of suicient height to handle the stacks thus formed. Thus a drier of normal length, and which may be operated at reduced speed, may be employed to handle the output of a modern high speed machine while at the same time assuring the maintenance of pressure upon the package ends for a suflicient length of time to` permit the adhesive on theend flaps to become permanently dried or set.

The improved sealing machine comprising the present invention has been designed for general application where it is desired to enclose an article in a carton and an outer wrapper. In the form illustrated, the invention hasv been disclosedain connection with. the wrapping ofan article whichmay beacake,of.soap'having a circular'oroval contour.; Such articles, being .of a soft material, are more easily wrapped when enclosed in a carton or container which provides a stiff symmetrical rectangular4 form to receive the outer wrapping material which, when folded about the carton and properly sealed, serves to hold the carton in shape. It will be understood, however, that the invention is capable of other uses and the same, with or without modification, may be applied to analogous uses where it is desired to hold portions of wrappers or other articles together until they adhere. l

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and partici ularly to Fig. 13, one of the completely wrapped packages is designated in its entirety at p and may consist of an article a such asv an oval cake of soap enclosed in a' rectangular carton c, the sides of which remain unfastened but which are held securely in position about thev article a by means of an outer wrapper w which is folded ab'out the carton to provide lower end flaps fi which overlap the upper end flaps fu and which are caused to adhere to the latter by daubs of an adhesive material such as glue, or the like. It will be understood that the wrapping of the articles a takes place by means of suitable automatic machinery in the form of a wrapping machine which delivers the articles in a wrapped condition, i.e., with the flap foverlapping the flap fu and with the adhesive material applied between the aps but in a moist or undried' condition. It is the function of the machine of the present invention to stack the packages and complete the drying operation on the end aps so that'these flaps will'perma'- nently adhere to each other. In accomplishing these functions, the sealing machine also arranges the packaged articles in numerically equal groups or stacks or superimposed packaged articles and delivers the stacks to a delivery station, whereby they may be loaded with facility, because of the stacked condition, into shipping containers;

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the stacking and sealing machine is shown as being operatively connected to the discharge end 10 of a wrapping machine from whence the wrapped and unsealed packages p emerge with their lower side flaps fl overlapping the upper side aps fu forY sealing purposes with a daub of previously applied adhesive between the flaps. The partially wrapped packages are delivered successively under the influence of a rotatingI impeller device, which has been designated in its entiretyy at 12, to a stacking and transfer device generallyy indicated at 14 which operates, upon reception of a predetermined number of the packages p, to transfer them in stacked condition to a sealing or drying mechanism generallydesignated at 16 in the form of a drying conveyor assembly by means of which the flaps fi are pressed against the aps fu for sealing purposes and the stacked and sealedv packages delivered for further packaging in shipping containers.

Only the delivery end 10 of the wrapping machine has been disclosed and this machine includes an endless conveyor belt 18 which passes over a driving pulley 20 and which delivers the wrapped articles successively onto a shelf 22 (see Fig. l0) forming a partof the sealing and stacking machine framework 23. From the shelf 22 the packages are moved by the follow-up action of successive packages between a pair of side rails 24 to a position overlying the open upper end of a curved chute or guide assembly 26 (see also Fig. 12) which is suitably supported from a stationary part of the machine framework 23 and which constitutes a group-forming support for the packages p aswill appear presently.

ReferringV now to Figs. 2, 5, 6, 8 and 9, all of the'operzb tive moving parts of the sealing and stacking machine comprising the present invention are adapted to be driven from a common driving shaft 28 (see particularly Figs.- 2, 6 and 8) which also serves to drive the conveyor belt 18 leading from the wrapping machine and thus the movementsV ofA the conveyor belt, and consequently. the feeding at leastvoffthe semi-packaged*articlessto the-seal? ing and stacking machine-isrin timed-relation-withthe operational movements 4of--the latten. althoughtheeopera'- `tional movements of the actual wrapping instrumentalities associated with the wrapping machine may be independent of the operation of the sealing and stacking mechanism. The drive shaft 28 carries a bevel gear 30 which meshes with a similar gear 32 mounted on a shaft 34 suitably journalled in the machine framework 23. Also mounted `on the shaft 34 (Fig. 8) is a gear 36 which meshes with a relatively large gear 38 carried on a shaft 39 and which, in turn, meshes with a gear 40 mounted on a shaft 42 journalled in the framework 23 and upon which the driving pulley 20 of the conveyor belt 18 leading from the wrapping machine is mounted. Thus ther train of gearing described above serves at all times to drive the pulley 20 of the wrapping machine discharge conveyor from the drive shaft 28.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 9 and 10, the rotary impeller device 12 includes an impeller shaft 43 rotatably journalled in the machine framework 23 and having mounted thereon a gear 45 (Figs. 6 and 9) which meshes with a relatively small gear 47 mounted on a shaft 48 which also carries a relatively large gear 49 meshing with the continuously rotatable gear 38. The train of gearing just described serves at all times to drive the impeller device 12 from the drive shaft 28.

The impeller shaft 43 carries an impeller wheel 50 of generally star-shape design and having a plurality of radially extending arms 52 each of which is formed with a sleeve or hub portion 54 (Figs. 2 and 9) at its outer end to which there is pivoted an individual impeller member 56.

, Each impeller member 56 is in the form of a plate-like member having a pair of ears 58 (Figs. l, 2 and 9) pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 60 extending through the hub or sleeve 54, a web portion 62, and a pair of package-engaging lingers 64. The impeller members 56 are` adapted upon continuous rotation of the impeller wheel 50 to successively yengage the packages p at the entrance to the chute assembly 26, as shown in Fig. 1, and to forcibly eject the same from their positions between the side rails 24 and impel the same downwardly into the chute assembly 26 for the purpose of assembling numerically equal groups of the packages within the chute (Figs. 1 and l2) for subsequent transfer of the groups bodily and successively to the sealing and drying instrumentalities of the machine.

Cam means are provided for controlling the movements yof the impeller members 56 upon rotation of the impeller wheel 50 so as to advance the fingers 64 thereof squarely into engagement with a package p at the entrance to the chute assembly 26 and to cause them to dislodge each package from its position between the side rails 24, as well as to cause the impeller members 56 to become retracted after they have advanced the package an appreciable distance along the length of the chute assembly 26.

Toward this end a stationary cam plate 63 (Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10) surrounds the shaft 43 and is secured in any suitable manner to the framework 23 of the machine and has formed therein a continuous cam groove 65. Each of the impeller members 56 has a cam roller 66 mounted thereon extending into the groove 65 and adapted to travel continuously therearound during rotation of the impeller wheel 50. The shape or contour of the cam groove 65 is designed according to engineering exigencies lin such a manner that it possesses a circular arcuate region 65a (Fig. 10) of relatively great eccentricity which drops o sharply as at 65h into a region 65C of relatively small eccentricity. The net effect of the cam groove 65 upon the impeller members 56 is to cause them to be projected outwardly from the central regions of the impeller wheel 50 as the roller 66 enters the region 65a so `that they will squarely engage the packages which are 'poised at the entrance to the chute assembly 26 and dislodge them from the conveyor and impel them forwardly and downwardly into the chute assembly26,

as well as to cause the impeller members 56 to be retracted into the central regions of the impeller wheel 50 as the roller or follower 66 enters the region 65C and thus withdraw them from engagement with the packages p which assume a nested condition in the chute assembly 26 preparatory to being upended bodily and transferred to the sealing instrumentalities or drying conveyor assembly 16 in the form of a vertical stack.

The chute assembly 26 is shown in detail in Figs. l, 9, 10 and 12 and involves in its general organization a flat supporting or bottom plate 70 (see Fig. 10) suitably secured to a .transverse supporting bracket 72 which extends across the machine framework 23. The chute assembly further comprises a curved bottom guide plate4 74 leading from the chute entrance and a fixed side wall 76 (Fig. l2). A crosspiece 78 secured to the side wall 76 extends beneath the plate 70 and has secured thereto a fixed outer wall or plate 80 (see also Fig. 2), on which there is mounted a floating side wall 81 supported on pins 82 and yieldably maintained against outward displacement by means of compression springs 84 surrounding the pins 82.

The lower end region of the bottom plate of the chute assembly 26 is cut away as at 85 (Fig. l2) to provide a plurality of downwardly inclined supporting fingers 86 upon which the Various packages p which cooperate to make up a stack are adapted to come to rest as each stack is being assembled in the chute preparatory to the transfer of the stack to the drying or sealing conveyor 16. While any number of fingers may be provided, two such ngers have been found adequate and these ngers are spaced apart so as to give proper support to the various packages undergoing assembly when the lifting or transfer operation takes place.

A pair of package stops 88 (Figs. l, 2 and l2) are suitably secured to the lower ends of the fingers 86 and have laterally turned ends 90 (see also Fig. 10) which project upwardly ino the path of' movement of the packages p and determine the position of the first package in each stack as the stack is progressively accumulated in .the chute assembly 26.

In order to align the various packages p against the fixed side wall 76 (Figs. 2 and 12) as they accumulate in the chute assembly 26, a brush assembly 92 is secured to a brush holder 94, the lower end of which is mounted on a pin 96 which projects outwardly from a supporting bracket 98 adjustably mounted on the transverse bracket 72 and adjustable thereon by a pin and slot mechanism 99. The brush assembly 92 includes a plurality of bristles 182 the ends of which are aligned and which are mounted with their free ends in substantial alignment with the yieldable side wall 81, the function of the bristles being to lightly and frictionally engage the ends of the packages and align them against the fixed side wall 76, as well as to wipe the glued ap fl (last folded in the packaging machine) and hold the same against the flap fu until such time as the stack, consisting of the prerequisite number of packages, has been accumulated in the chute assembly 26 and its transfer by the transfer device 14 to the drying conveyor assembly 16 has been effected.

The stacking and transfer device 14 is best illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, 9 and l0, and includes a stacking and trans--y fer wheel of generally spool-shape design and including a central hub portion 111 and radially extending spool sides 112 providing radially extending arms 113 which are arranged in opposed pairs and of which there are preferably four in number at each side of the stacking wheel. The stacking and transfer Wheel 110 is mounted upon and secured to a shaft 114 which extends across the machine framework 23 (Fig. 3) and which carries thereon a stacking wheel driving gear 116 (see also Fig. 6) capable of being driven at different speed ratios from the driving shaft 28, all in a manner and for av purpose that will be described presently.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 3, and 12, a plurality of lifting" or stacking arm assemblies 118 are pivotally mounted' between the opposed ends of each pair of arms 113 and toward this end a boss 120 is formed on the end of each arm and a pivot pin 122 extends across and has its ends supported in each pair of aligned bosses. Each stacking arm assembly 118 includes a block portion 124 formed with a pair of spaced upstanding bosses 125 which surround the pivot pin 122 and from which there extends upwardly a pair of spaced package supportingv arms 126. A fork-like lifting pla-te 127 having a series of lifting lingers 128, of which there are preferably three in number, is secured in any suitable manner, as, for example, by welding, to a surface of each block portion and is designed for register with the cutaway portions 85 formed in the supporting plate 70 of the conveyor assembly 26. Each block portion 124 carries a cam follower roller 130 adapted to travel in a continuous cam groove 132 formed in a cam plate 134 (see Figs. 1, 3 and 10) secured to a supporting member 136 which, in turn, is secured to a stationary part of the machine framework 23,

The cam groove 132 is designed in such a manner that the stacking arm assemblies 118 are projected outward.y from the central regions of the stacking wheel 110 a suicient distance that they may underlie and receive thereon the sides of a definite predetermined number of close-lying leading packages p contained in the chute assembly 26 in the bottom regions thereof. In the present instance, the extent of the lifting fingers 128 (Fig. 1) is such that they may underlie and receive thereon four of the close-lying leading packages contained within the chute assembly. As the stacking Wheel 110 is rotated in at clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, the lifting fingers 128 pass through the voids created by the cutaway portions 85 (Fig. 12) in the supporting plate 70 (Fig. 10) and engage the underneath sides of the four lowermost packages p resting in the chute assembly 26 and lift them bodily upwardly to upend them as a unit or stack and transfer them in stacked condition to the drying or sealing mechanism 16. During the actual transfer operation as described above, one side of the lowermost package in the group or stack rests by gravity on` the two package supporting arms 126 which assume horizontal positions as they approach the sealing mechanism so that the stacks are deposited in substantially vertical position on the supporting surface provided for their reception at the sealing mechanism.

After the stacks of four packages each have been transferred to the sealing mechanism 16 as described above, the lifting arm assemblies 118 are rapidly withdrawn under the influence of the cam follower rollers 130 and groove 132 and swung out of the path of movement of the stacked articles in the drying mechanism so that they do not interfere with the normal movement thereof through the mechanism. Accordingly, the cam groove 132 is provided with a substantially circular arcuate portion 132e of comparatively great eccentricity which drops olf sharply at 132i) on either side thereof to a region of comparatively small eccentricity 132C. As each cam roller or follower 130 enters the arcuate portion 132:1 of the cam groove 132, is respective lifting arm assembly 118 becomes extended as previously described so that it may underlie and engage a group or stack of the packages in the chute assembly 26. As the roller or follower enters the region 132b, the follower is drawn rapidly inwardly of the stacking wheel 110 and the lifting assembly 118 is moved rapidly to its retracted position as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1.

As will be pointed out presently, the movements of the stacking and transfer wheel 110 are synchronized with the feed of the packages p into the chute assembly 26"and ltoward this end the previously mentioned stacking-wheel driving1gear116A (see Fig. y6)*is adapted to be drivenn-frorn tbe same driving shaft 2S which controlsA the movements of thev package feeding impeller wheel 50.

The ldriving mechanism for the stacking wheel may be adjusted or shifteddthrough a speed-change mechanism to vary the rate of turning movement of the stacking wheel tov vary the number of packages collected or grouped in the chute assembly 26 prior to engagement thereby by the lifting arm assemblies 118 to thus vary the number of packages transferred at one time to the sealing mechanism 16 and to accordingly vary the number ot' packages in each stack.

The machine has been illustrated in the drawings as being set or adjusted for the transfer of four packages during each successive transfer operation to the drying or sealing mechanism 16, but as will be described presently, it may, by a simple adjustment, be converted to use in the transfer of only three packages to the sealing mechanism during each transfer operation.

It has been described previously how the conveyor belt 18 leading from the wrapping machine, and the impeller device 12 which ejects the packages from the discharge end of the wrapping machine and impels them into the chute assembly 26, are continuously driven in timed relationship from the driving shaft 28. A drive also exists from the driving shaft 28 to the stacking wheel 110Y and this drive, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6, includes a speed'- change mechanism for varying the rate of turning movement of the stacking wheel to accommodate varying the number of articles transferred during each transfer operation from the chute assembly 26 to the sealing device 16.

The relatively small gear 47 which constitutes an element of the previously described gear train leading from the drive shaft 28 to the impeller wheel driving gear 45 is in constant mesh with a relatively thick gear having elongated spline-like teeth formed thereon and mounted on a shaft 152 suitably journalled in the machine framework 23. A manually adjustable speed change plate 154 which may be of rectilinear design is pivotally supported on the shaft 152 and carries a stud or short shaft 156 in the medial regions thereof on which there is slidably mounted an idler pinion or gear 158 which is in constant mesh with the gear 150 and which, by shifting of the plate 154 and axial shifting of the pinion 158, may be selectively brought into mesh with a relatively large gear 160 or witha smaller gear 162, both of which gears are mounted in different planes on a common shaft 164 journalled in the framework 23 and extending transversely of the machine.

The plate 154 is provided with an arcuate slot 165 therein and a clamping stud 168 threadedly received in a stationary portion of the machine framework 23 serves to clamp the plate in either its full line or its dotted line position of adjustment. When the plate 154 is clamped in its full line position as shown in Fig. 6, the sliding idler` gear 158 may be moved axially on its supporting shaft -156 and into engagement with the gear 160 to connect the gears 150 and 160 in driving relationship. When the plate 154 is clamped in its dotted line position, the gear 158 may be moved axially into engagement with the gear 162 to connect this latter gear and the gear 150y in driving relationship. The shaft 164 carries a small gear 166 which is in constant mesh with the stacking wheel driving gear 116.

From the above description of parts, it will be seen that a low speed gearv ratio drive is established from the main'driving shaft 28 to the stacking Wheel 110 when the speed change plate 154 is inits full line position, as shown'in Fig. 6, and the gear 158 is in mesh with the gear 160. This driving train ofgearing exists from the shafts 28 through gears 30, 32, 36, 38, 49, 47, 150, 158, 160, 166, 116 and shaft 114 to the stacking wheel 1'1'0. When the plate 154 is in its dotted line position, a high speed ratio drive exists from the main driving shaft 28 to the stacking wheel 110. The train of gearing for establishing this high speed'ratio drive exists from the shaft 28, through gears 3l), 32', 36, 38, 49, 47, 150, 158 162, 166, 1'16 andshaft 114 to the stacking wheel, 110.

It has been previously set forth in connection with Fig'.`

, 9:' 6 how 'the train of gearing 'leading vfrorn'the drive shaft 28 to the discharge conveyorfo'f the wrappingrnachine and' including the gears 30, 32, y 36, 38 and 40,` and the train of gearing leading 'from the drive shaft to the impeller wheel and including hthegears 30, 32, 36, 38, 49, 47 and 45, 'serves to drive the conveyor and impeller in timed relationship in an unvarying manner. Thus the rate ofdelivery of the packages at the discharge end of the conveyor belt 1-8 remains constant andthe rate of their ejection or removal therefrom by the impeller device 12 likewise remains constant and is sufliciently high that each package is ejected into the chute assembly 26 at approximately the instant `at which it arrives at the impeller device. In this manner the close-lying packages on the belt' 18 do not become clogged and there is little, if any, slippage of the packages on the belt by virtue of any delay in ejecting them at the discharge end of the belt.

The timing `operation ofthe stacking wheel through both its high speed driving train ofjgearing and its low speed driving train'of gearing is` likewise predetermined so'that there shall be no clogging of `the packages in the chute assembly-,26 which `might back up, so to speak, into the delivery conveyor ofthe wrapping machine.

` When the machine is set todeliver the packages to the y drying channel in stacks of four packages each, the gearing is such that `the stacking wheel 110 and the impeller wheel 50 rotaterespectively at a one-to-four ratio and the grouped packages are removed by the stacking arm assemblies 118 and are delivered to the drying mechanism 16 four at a time ata rate which, over a given period of time, equals the rate of delivery of the packages from theconveyor belt 18 `into thechute assembly 26.

` When the machine is set to deliver the packages to the drying channel in stacks of three packages each, the `gearing is'` suchthat the stacking wheel 110V and impeller wheel 50` rotate respectively at a o ne-to-three ratio with the net result that each time the impeller device 12 ejects three of the packages from the discharge end of the conveyor belt 18 and-into the chute assembly 26, the three packages are picked up, so to speak, by one ofthe on- 'coming stacking arm` assemblies 118 of the stacking wheel. 110 and delivered to the drying channel. The timing between the" stacking wheel 110 and impeller wheel 50 is such that the next or fourth package delivered into' the chute assembly falls to the bottom of the latter against Ythe package supporting arms 126 and becomes the bottom package in the next succeeding stack of three packages delivered to the drying-channel.A Thus, as in the case of `four-package stacks, vthe chute assembly 26 as well as the vdischargeend of the conveyor belt 18 are cleared at alltirnes to make room for oncoming packages. d

The `dryingor sealing mechanism 16 which affords `the dryingfchannel previously referred to is best il- Vlustrated in Figs. v1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 10. The sealing mechanism involves vin itsgeneral organization a bottom conveyor assembly 180 (Fig. 5), and a pair of side conveyor assemblies d Whichare 4designated at 186, 1-88 and 190, respectively. The upper run or straightaway portion of the conveyor belt 186 and the two opposed inner runs or straightaway 'portions'` ofthe twofconveyor belts 188 and 190 con- 10 apsifl and fu of the packages p, considering the rate?- oftravelof the stacked packages through the channel.

"l'fe' receiving end of the conveyor assembly 180 terminates somewhat short of the receiving ends of the side conveyor assemblies 182 and 184 (Fig. l) and the forward end of the bottom of the drying channel is comf pleted by la series of stack-supporting antifriction rollers 191 arranged in closely spaced parallel relationship and supported at their ends from opposed stationary portions of the machine framework 23. The rollers 191 are in horizontal alignment and, in combination, they provide a horizontal antifriction table surface or supportfor' the various stacked packages at the level of the upper run of the conveyor belt 186. The conveyor assembly 180 includes an end pulley or drum 193 l(Figs. 1 and 5) at the receiving end of the drying channel `over which the endless belt 186 passes, while the side conveyors 182 and 184 include end pulleys or drums 195 and 197 (Fig. 5) over which the belts 182 and 184 respectively pass. The pulley 193 is rotatably supported between bearing members 194 mounted on the machine framework while the pulley 195 is journalled between upper and lower stationary plates 199 and 201, respectively,` forming a part of the machine framework 23. A series of closely spaced backing rollers 198 are rotatably journalled between the upper and lower plates 199 and 201 and occupy positions of alignment just inside the inner straightaway portion or run of the conveyor belt 188; j

The side conveyor 184 includes upper and lower sta tionary plates 200 and 202 between which there is rotatably journalled a series cf backing rollers 204 similar to the rollers 198 and which occupy positions of alignment just inside lthe inner straightaway portion or run of the conveyor belt 190.

The pulley or drum 197 at the receiving end of the drying channel is capable of lateral shifting movements 182 rand 184, the `endless traveling belts of d stitute inV effect what hasheretoforebeen termed as the drying channel,between which the stacked packages move in succession to apointof discharge, with the end aps of thepackages bearing against theinner runs of the two side conveyor belts 188 and 190 under pressure.

`5The conveyors ",180, 182 and 184 have been fragmentarilyy shown so'.that only the receivingl end of the drying channel. maybe seenin the drawings, but it will beunderstood that these `conveyors are of such length asv to provide a drying channel ofv suicient extent as to Aafford adequatedrying time for theadhesively sealed toward and away from the axially fixed pulley 195 in order to vary the width of the drying channel, and means are' provided whereby such lateral movements of the drum 197 are synchronized with the feeding of the stacked packages to the entrance of the drying channel so that` as each stack approaches andenters the channel between the inner runs of the conveyorl` belts 188 and 190, the entrance to the channel is widened a relatively slight degree `to receive the stacks and is then immediately re stored to `its normal width to cause the inner side of the belt to engage the ends of the packages at one side of each stack vand align the packages against the inner side of the belt 188 to shape each stack into a truly vertical column with the packages thereof in vertical alignment. Y'

Accordingly, the pulley or drum 197 is mounted on a shaft 192, the ends of which are rotatably journalled in the medial regions of a pair of swinging arms including an upper arm 210 (see also Figs. 1, 5 and 7) and a lower arm 212. The arms 210 and 212 are of L-shape design and each has one end thereof pivotally mounted on a vertically extending shaft 214 supported between the plates 200 and 202 with the upper arm 210 being dis; posed above the plate 200 and the arm 212 being disposed beneath the plate 202. The other ends of the arms 210 and 212 have pivotally mounted thereon tension blocks 216, each of `which has anchored therein one end of a tension link 218, and the other end of each link slidably projects through a block 220 and has a split adjusting collar 222 secured to the end thereof. Compression springs 223 surround each tension link 218 and bear at opposite ends against the blocks 216 and 220. The lower block 220 is pivotally mounted as at 224 to one end of a bell crank lever 226, which is secured in the medial region thereof to a vertical rock shaft 228, the ends of which are suitably journalled in the machine framework 23. The other end of the bell crank lever 226 carries a cam roller or follower 230 which extends into a cam shaft 2 36 rotatably journalled in the machinel frame-` work and the nature and function of which will'be2 set forth presently. The upper block 220 (Fig. 5) is pivotally secured as at 238 to a crank arm 240 secured to the shaft 228.

From the above description of parts, it will be seen that as the shaft 236 rotates in timed relation to the rotational movements of the drive shaft 28, the cam roller 2,30 will be moved radially inwardly and outwardly of the cam wheel 234, thus rocking the bell crank lever 226 and rock shaft 228 upon which it is mounted about a vertical axis. Such rocking movement of the rock shaft 228 operates through the medium of the `tension links 218 to swing the arms 210 and 212 about their pivotal axis 214 in unison and thus periodically shift the position of the shaft 192 on which the conveyor pulley or drum 197 is mounted toward and away from the fixed axis of the pulley or drum 195.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, the movements of the cam wheel 234 are correlated with the movements of the drive shaft 28 through a system ofV gearing leading from the drive shaft 28 through the previously'l mentioned gears 30, 32, 36, 38, 49, 47, 150, 158 and thence through either the gear'160 or 162 (depending upon whether a low speed gear ratio drive or a high speed gear ratio drive obtains from the drive shaft to the stacking and transfer device 14) to the shaft 164. From the shaft 164 the drive to the cam wheel 234 is completed by means of a pair of meshing bevel gears 240 and 242 mounted on the shafts 164 and 236 respectively.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the cam groove 232 in the cam wheel 234 is provided with a region 232a of relatively high eccentricity and a region 232b of relatively low eccentricity. The previously described train of gearing leading from the shaft 28 through gears 30, 32, 36, 38, 49, 47, 150, 158, 160 or 162 (as the case may be), 240 and 242 to the cam wheel 234 is such that the cam Wheel makes one revolution for each quarter-revolution of the stacking wheel 110. This holds true whether the speed change plate 154 is set for delivery of the packages to the drying chanel in groups of three` packages or of four packages each. Thus, in either event, the design of the cam groove 232 is such that as the stacking wheel 110 delivers each stack (consisting of either three or four packages) onto the antifriction rollers 191 at the entrance to the drying channel of the drying mechanism 16, the cam roller 230 enters the region 232b of relatively low eccentricity of the cam groove 232 and causes the bell crank lever 226 to be swung in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. l and 5 (clockwise as viewed in Fig. 7) to move the axis of the shaft 192 away from the fixed axis of the conveyor roller or drum 195 and thus slightly widen the width of the receiving end of the drying channel by the expedient of flexing, so to speak, the receiving end of the conveyor belt 190 away from the receiving end of the conveyor belt 18S. When the cam wheel 234 has rotated substantially 180 after reception of a stack on the supporting rollers 191, the inner sides or runs of the two side conveyor belts 188 and 190 then engage the ends of the packages p of the stack therebetween and positive impelling of the stacks through the drying channel takes place.

It will be understood, of course, that the conveyors 180, 182 and 184 may be suitably driven by mechanism operatively connected to the discharge end thereof and which has not been illustrated herein since it does not constitute a part of the present invention.

T hc invention is claimed as follows:

l. in an apparatus for sealing the folded ends of package wrappers to which adhesive has been applied, a pair of endless traveling belts arranged in parallelism to provide a sealing channel having a receiving end and through which the packages are conducted with the ends thereof bearing against the opposed inner runs of said belts, a

12? rotatable drum f or eachbelt at the receiving end of said channel and over which the belt passes, means lfor feeding successive stacks of pckage's'to the receivingl end of" said channel for entry'betWeen-said opposed inner runs, and means operable as each stack-ofV packages approaches the receiving end of the channel for increasing'fthe dis-l tance between the axes of rotation of said drums to widen the receiving end of said channel as the stack'is admitted thereto and for thereafter decreasing the distance between said axes to cause the inner runs to close upon` the stack and align the packages thereof vertically foi' travel through the channel.

2. In an apparatus for sealing' the folded endsof package wrappers to which adhesive has been applied, a' pair of-endless traveling belts arranged in parallelism'tov provide a sealing channel having a receiving' end and through which the packages are conducted with the yends thereof bearing against the opposed inner runs of said belts, a rotatable drum for each belt at the receiving'end of said channel and'ov'erk which the belt passes, means for feeding successive stacks ofv packages to the receiving end of said channel for entry between said opposed inner runs, and meansoperable as each stack of packagesy approaches the receiving end of the channel for shifting the axis of rotation of one of said drums relative to the axis of rotation of the other drum. to increase'the distance between said axes and widen the receiving end of said channel as the stack is admitted thereto and for thereafter again shifting said axis of rotation to decrease the distance between said axes and cause-` the innery run o f one belt to engage the sides of the packages in the stack and align the packages of the stack against the inner run of the other belt for travel through' said channel'.

3. In an apparatus for securing the folded portions of package wrappers to which adhesive has been applied, a pair of endless traveling belts arranged to receive the packages therebetween for movement therealong between the inner runs of said belts, a rotatable dr'um carrying the receiving end of one of saidl belts, a fixed support for said drum, a rotatable drum carrying the receiving end of the other belt, an oscillatory support for said latter belt movable toward and away froml said fixed support to vary the distance, between the inner runs yof said belts at the receiving ends thereof, means for feeding packages to the receiving ends of said belts, and means operable in timed relation to the feeding of said packages for oscillating said supportto widen the distance between the inner runs of said belts at the receiving' ends thereof as each package enters said end and to thereafter decrease the distance between the inner runs o f said belts at the receiving-ends thereof to cause the packages to be aligned by the inward pressure of saidy belts thereon. v

4. In an apparatus for securing the folded portions of package wrappers to which adhesive has'V been applied, a pair of endless traveling belts `arranged to receive the packages therebetween for movement therealong between the inner runs of said belts, a rotatable drum carrying the receiving end of one of said belts, a fixed supportJ for said drum, a rotatable drum carrying the receiving end of the other belt, a shiftable support for said latter belt movable toward and away from said fixed support to vary the distance between the inner runs of said belts at the receiving ends thereof, a shiftable drivingl member, means including a lost motion connection operatively connecting said shiftable driving member and` support, yieldable means taking up said lost motion co'nnec'- tion, means for feeding packagesV to the receiving ends of said belts, and means operable in timed relation to the feeding of said packages for periodically moving said shiftable driving member to move said support and` widen the distance between the inner runs of said belts at the receiving ends thereof as` eachy package enters; saidV end and to thereafter decrease the distance'- between the inner runs of said belts at ther receiving ends thereof to cause 13 the packages to be aligned by the inward pressure of said belts therebetween exerted by said yieldable means.

5. Apparatus for sealing folded ends of wrapped packages to which adhesive has been applied, said apparatus comprising at the receiving end thereof a rst roller mounted to rotate about a fixed axis, a rst endless belt trained around the iirst roller, a second roller mounted to rotate about a laterally shiftable axis spaced apart from the rst roller, a second endless belt trained about the second roller, and means operatively associated with the second roller for shifting the rotational axis thereof and for increasing the spacing between the belts for receiving the wrapped packages and for decreasing the spacing between the belts for securing the wrapped packages.

6. Apparatus for sealing folded ends of wrapped pack-V ages to which adhesive has been applied, said apparatus comprising at the receiving end thereof a first roller mounted to rotate about a lixed vertical axis, a first enclless belt trained around the rst roller, a second roller mounted to rotate about a vertical axis spaced apart from the rst roller, a second endless belt trained about the second roller, a laterally shiftable supporting means for providing the rotational axis and for supporting the second roller, reciprocatory means operatively associated with the supporting means for shifting the supporting means and varying the spacing between the endless belts, said reciprocatory means being operable to increase the spacing between Vthe 'belts for receiving the wrapped packages therebetween and being further operable to decrease the spacing between the belts for resiliently securing the wrapped packages therebetween.

7. Apparatus for sealing folded ends of wrapped packages to which adhesive has been applied, said apparatus comprising at the receiving end thereof a rst end support roller mounted to rotate about a rst vertical shaft, a rst endless belt trained about the first roller, a second roller mounted to rotate about a second vertical shaft, a second endless belt trained about the second roller, a pair of pivotal support arms secured to the shaft of the second roller whereby the second roller may be moved in spaced relation withthe rst roller for varying the spacing between the endless belts, a' continuously rotating cam means, and a mechanical coupling means connected between the continuously rotating cam means and the pivotal support arms, said mechanical coupling means being operable to transmit oscillatory motion from the cam means to pivot the support arms whereby the spacing between the endless belts may be increased for the receiving of the wrapped packages and decreased for the securing of the wrapped packages.

8. Apparatus for transporting wrapped packages having folded ends to which adhesive has been applied and for resiliently holding the packages to permit the adhesive to dry, said apparatus comprising a pair of endless belts arranged to form a traveling channel therebetween, a pair of spaced apart upstanding rotatably mounted drums for supporting the belt at the receiving end thereof, a first of the drums being mounted to rotate about a fixed axis and having a iirst of the endless belts trained therearound, a pivotal support means supporting the second of the drums around which the second endless belt is trained, a lifter arm positioned in spaced relation with chronous operation whereby the width of the channel is increased between the belts as the lifter arm passes the wrapped packages thereto and whereby the width of the channel is decreased between the belts for securing the wrapped packages.v

9. Apparatus for transporting wrapped packages having folded ends to which adhesive has been applied and for holding the packages to permit the adhesive to dry and secure the folded ends, said apparatus comprising a rst endless belt, a second endless belt spaced apart from the first belt, said first and second belts forming opposed vertical sides of a drying channel, a third endless belt spaced below the first and second belts and forming a bottom of the drying channel, a rst roller mounted to rotate about a fixed vertical axis at the receiving end of said channel, said rst belt being trained around the rst roller, a pair of vertically spaced support arms mounted to pivot laterally of the second belt, a second roller rotatably mounted between the support arms, said second belt being trained around the second roller, and a reciprocatory means drivingly coupled to the support arms for reciprocating the second roller and the second belt laterally to increase the width of the drying channel for -receiving stacks of the wrapped packages and to decrease the width of the drying channel for securing the wrapped packages therein. l

10. Apparatus for transporting wrapped packages having folded ends to which adhesive has been applied and for holding the packages to permit the adhesive to dry andV secure the folded ends, said apparatus comprising a rst endless belt, a second endless belt spaced apart the belts and with the drums for passing the wrapped from the rst belt, said rst and second belts forming opposed vertical sides of al drying channel, a third endless belt spaced below the rst and second belts and forming a bottom of the drying channel, a rst roller mounted to rotate about a iixed vertical axis at the receiving end of 'said channel said rst belt being trained around the rstroller, a pair of vertically spaced support arms mounted to pivot laterally of the second belt, a second roller rotatably mounted between the support arms and disposed opposite said first roller, said second belt being trained around the second roller, a lifter arm positioned to move in spaced relation with the rollers and with the belts for passing stacks of the wrapped packages into the drying channel, a continuously rotating cam, a drive means drivingly coupled to the lifter arm and to the cam whereby the lifter arm and the cam will move synchronously with each other, a pivotally mounted member engaged with and oscillated by the cam, and a pair of link members each connected between the pivotally mounted member and one of the support arms for transmitting oscillatory movement to the support arms for oscillating the second roller and the second belt laterally to increase the width of the drying channel for receiving the stacks of the wrapped packages from the lifter arm and to decreasevthe width of the drying channel for securing the stacks of the wrapped articles therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,182,755 Cowen May 9, 1916 1,195,229 Johnson Aug. 22, 1916 1,543,843 Gwinn June 30, 1925 2,183,163 Howard Dec. 12, 1939 2,685,769 Contiv Aug. 10, 1954 2,697,473 Techtmann Dec. 21, 1954 2,725,168 Lindstaedt Nov. 29, 1955 2,836,943 Davis ---u June 3, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CEBTiFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 2,913,862, V November 24, 1959 l Clarence J. Malnicrl'.4

It ie hereb certified that error appears in the-printed specification of 'the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read es corrected below.

Column 4, line 31, for "stacks or" read stacks oi --5 line 34, for oi the" read I of their -f-'g -coluxm `6, line' 38, for uino" reed into column '7, line 61, for "is reapectiwie'yead its respective column 1A, liney 37, after "channel" ims'eri;` a comme;

signed and seared chia 24th day of May 1960.-

SEAL) ttest: KARL H. AXLINE i ROBERT C. WATSON Attestingcer Commissioner of Patents 

